Perseid Meteor Shower to Peak Over South Carolina in August

In less than two weeks, the dwellers of South Carolina will be blessed with the sight of the year’s best meteor shower: the Perseids. Of the two major meteor showers that punctuate our planet’s journey around the sun annually, NASA reports that the Perseids are the more impressive spectacle, much awaited by astronomers and night-sky watchers alike.

A Spectacular Cosmic Display

Bill Cooke, who leads NASA’s meteoroid environment office, anticipates an exceptional show this year. In a dark rural part of South Carolina, you’re likely to see around one Perseid per minute, equating to 50 or 60 per hour. More thrillingly, the Perseid meteor shower is particularly rich in fireballs, promising a dazzling night-time performance.

Like most meteor showers, the Perseids are meteorites, or tiny fragments of a comet – in this case, the Swift-Tuttle comet, discovered in 1862. This long-term visitor to our skies only comes within view of Earth every 133 years. It last appeared in 1992 and isn’t expected to return until 2125. Despite the comet’s infrequent visits, its debris provides an annual meteor shower, delighting astronomers and sky gazers.

The Perseid Meteor Shower Peak

The peak of the Perseids is anticipated between August 11 and 12. Cooke suggests these celestial displays will be most visible from 11 p.m. on August 11 to 2 a.m. on August 12. The visibility is aided by the moon setting below the horizon as the shower begins to peak, resulting in a darker sky and better contrast for watching fallen stars.

How To Best Enjoy The Meteor Shower

The most enjoyable Perseid experience is obtained by escaping city lights and finding a dark spot in the South Carolina outdoors. Unrolling a blanket or even a sleeping bag, prepare for an extended gaze skywards. Cooke says, “Look straight up, take in as much of the sky as possible. Under suburbs and city lights, you ain’t gonna see many.” Remember also to allow your eyes to adjust to the night sky. Switch off cellphones and other sources of light.

In the upstate part of South Carolina, the Roper Mountain Astronomers Club will host a members-only viewing party. Still, anyone can enjoy the spectacle from a suitable dark spot. Club president David Quattlebaum suggests Highway 11, in the northern parts of Greenville and Spartanburg counties, as ideal spots to look skyward. You can also use a light pollution map to help you find the perfect viewing spot.

“The wonder of our universe is the real reason to watch,” Quattlebaum stated. “The composition of the meteor determines the color it appears as it trails across the sky. Occasionally you see an incredibly bright one, and it’s exhilarating.”

Be prepared to take in the awe-inspiring cosmic spectacle of the Perseid meteor shower this August, a reminder of the immensity and beauty of our universe.